Posted 2014-04-20 9:13 AM (#436957) Subject: are front and rear brake drums the same?
Expert
Posts: 1348
Location: Valley Forge, Pa.
I am looking for a set of rear brake drums for my 1960 Plymouth Suburban. The book calls for 11" x 2". Ebay has 11" x 2" drums listed to fit front and rear. My original MOPAR bake parts catalog has 2 different #s. Are they interchangable?
Thanks again for any info,
Karl.
Posted 2014-04-22 1:17 PM (#437277 - in reply to #436957) Subject: Re: are front and rear brake drums the same?
Expert
Posts: 1493
Location: Jamaica Plain, MA
Nope. The rears are driven by the axle, the front free-spin. The rears have a key to keep them from spinning. The fronts have inner and outer bearings.
Posted 2014-04-22 2:38 PM (#437286 - in reply to #436957) Subject: RE: are front and rear brake drums the same?
Expert
Posts: 3780
Location: NorCal
The reason the factory parts book shows different part numbers is because they consider the hub/drum as a drum assembly...when the drum is separated from its hub, the bare front and rear drums may well be the same.
Posted 2014-04-22 7:12 PM (#437309 - in reply to #436957) Subject: Re: are front and rear brake drums the same?
Location: Under the X in Texas
Agree, typically the drums are identical on any car front and rear. The hubs onto which the drums are swaged /riveted have to be different as mentioned. Be sure you have a local machine shop that can R&R the original hubs out of the old drums and into the new drums. Then it is imperative that they be given a clean up turning of .0005 or .0010 to true them to center or you will have pulsating brakes.
Posted 2014-04-22 11:21 PM (#437335 - in reply to #436957) Subject: Re: are front and rear brake drums the same?
Expert
Posts: 1493
Location: Jamaica Plain, MA
I doubt I'd go to the hassle to not just replace the whole assembly. You can put studs instead of bolts in-- but changing from a tapered axle design is much more involved
Posted 2014-04-23 1:39 AM (#437357 - in reply to #437315) Subject: Re: are front and rear brake drums the same?
Board Moderator & Exner Expert 10K+
Posts: 13055
Location: Southern Sweden - Sturkö island
ttotired - 2014-04-23 1:56 AM
Isnt this where they talk about changeing the wheel studs so it doesnt lock the drums on anymore?
You don't have to change the wheel studs if they're in good condition. Adapt a sturdy piece of pipe with a larger diameter than the stud head - support the hub and press the stud out about 1/8" (3 mm). Press out all studs to the same measure - now the drum can be removed from the hub.
Press the studs back in place on the hub. Carefully grind or file the studs cylindrical in case they need to. Grind the holes in the drum cylindrical.
Mark the hub with a countersink or drill in the two extra small holes and dab some paint in them.
Now you have removable drums and a point of reference for to get the drums back in the same position.
The drum centers, just like before on the center hole - no problem.